Tag Archives: entertainment
Longest bridal veil at Sharjah wedding show
Longest bridal veil at Sharjah wedding show Lily B. Libo-on / 6 March 2014 Fashion shows, bridal couture, hairstyling main attractions World’s longest bridal veil measuring 5-km in length, weighing about 7kg, and embellished with crystals and pearls at its first 5 metres, was unveiled at the ninth edition of Perfect Wedding Show, which opened on Wednesday at the Expo Centre Sharjah. The veil by Rozana Hospitality broke the four-year Guinness Book of World Records held by Sandra Mechleb of Lebanon, who wore a 3.358-km long bridal veil when she married Chady Abi Younis in Arnaoon, Lebanon on October 18, 2009. World’s longest bridal veil on display at the Perfect Wedding Show in Sharjah. — Supplied photo This year’s Perfect Wedding Show, which is open daily from 3pm to 10pm, is also presenting a mega prize of a fully paid ‘royal wedding package’ comprising a five-star ballroom for the winning couple and their guests, a bridal beauty package, Kosha decoration and a honeymoon trip to Istanbul. To participate in the royal wedding package, the couples due to get married are urged to register at the website of the Perfect Wedding Show 2014 at www.sharjahweddingshow.com and they will be automatically entered in a raffle draw to be done on Saturday (March 8), the last day of the event. Shaikha Aisha bint Mohammed Al Qasimi opened the four-day Perfect Wedding Show, which features a wide range of perfumes, ouds, cosmetics, jewellery, gifts and accessories, health and beauty products, cards and stationery, and related materials and accessories for weddings apart from designers, couturiers, décor specialists, wedding planners and caterers. A play area is also available for children under 12 years since they won’t be allowed inside the exhibition halls. The fair is also organising a 45-minute fashion show that will be performed daily and will feature local, regional and international design houses and designers, including Fouad Sarkis, Dar Mona Al Mansouri, Dar Sara, Amato and Emirati designer, Aisha Al Muhairi. The Perfect Wedding Show has a special section for Egyptian furnishings sponsored by the Egyptian Trade Centre, special bridal couture shows, cultural parades, live demonstrations of hair-styling and make-up and dance performances. “The increasing popularity of the show can be attributed to the emergence of the UAE as a leading wedding destination, lavish wedding ceremonies and engagements taking place here,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO, Expo Centre Sharjah. National Bureau of Statistics shows that the number of marriages registered in the UAE has gone up from 6,475 in 1995 to 14,934 in 2012. But, this figure excludes the multiple wedding receptions and other related functions that are taking place in UAE. Al Midfa said that even though the number of marriages has remained stagnant for a few years, wedding planners are doing a brisk business due to the rising demand for wedding receptions and related functions. “This is because though several expatriates prefer to tie the knot in their home country, however, they hold their engagements and receptions here since they work and live in UAE,” he added. With the industry observers putting a tag of $80,000 as average wedding expense and close to 15,000 weddings taking place annually, the wedding sector here could be conservatively be valued at $1.2 billion. lily@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain recall envoys from Qatar
UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain recall envoys from Qatar Mustafa Al Zarooni / 6 March 2014 Qatar, while expressing regret for the decision, said it would not resort to tit-for-tat action by withdrawing its envoys to the countries. The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain on Tuesday accused Qatar of interfering in their internal affairs and pulled out their ambassadors from Doha. Qatar, while expressing regret for the decision by its fellow Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members, said it would not resort to tit-for-tat action by withdrawing its envoys to the countries. Earlier, in a joint statement, the three countries said they had “exerted massive efforts to contact Qatar on all levels to agree on a unified policy… to ensure non-interference, directly or indirectly, in the internal affairs of any member state”. Doha was asked not to support “any party that threatens the security and stability of the GCC countries whether organisations, or individuals, either through direct security work or by political influence, and not to support the hostile media”. Qatar’s Amir His Highness Shaikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani had made the commitment during a mini-summit in Riyadh last year with Kuwait’s Amir and the Saudi monarch. Kuwait’s Amir His Highness Shaikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, now recuperating from surgery in the US, tried to calm tensions between the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia, and Shaikh Tamim back then. Responding to the diplomatic action by the three countries, Doha said it was linked to “differences over issues outside the Gulf Cooperation Council”, meaning policies on Egypt, and its support of the Muslim Brotherhood. The decision by the UAE, Saudi and Bahrain follows a UAE Federal Court verdict on Monday jailing Qatari national Mahmud Al Jidah to seven years for links to the Muslim Brotherhood. Dr Abdul Khaleq Abdullah, Professor of Political Science at UAE University, said the diplomatic action was unprecedented and added that the “ball was now in Qatar’s court”. “Part of actions which Qatar should take to prevent the situation from getting worse is to silence Yousouf Al Qaradawi, who attacked the UAE from a mosque in Doha while delivering a sermon. Qatar should abandon the Muslim Brotherhood card, and change the editorial policy of Al Jazeera,” he said. On why the Sultanate of Oman and Kuwait did not withdraw their envoys from Doha, he said, “Oman has taken its own stand while Kuwait can play the role of a mediator as it has good relations with all GCC states.” Moanis Al Mardi, Chairman of the Bahrain Journalists Association, said Qatar had gone so far, and relations had reached tipping point. “The Kingdom of Bahrain has endured much and Al Jazeera was making the situation worse with its unfair reporting. Qatari ties with the GCC were deep and Doha should work towards a common goal,” Al Mardi said. “It should review its policies on the Brotherhood, failing which economic ties with the GCC could be snapped.” malzarooni@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Enjoy boating, kart racing at Al Montazah Park
Enjoy boating, kart racing at Al Montazah Park Afkar Abdullah (afkarali@khaleejtimes.com) / 2 March 2014 Spreading over 126,000 square metres, Al Montazah Park boasts three main sections comprising a first-of-its-kind water park in Sharjah that will cover 26,000 square metres, a 50,000 square metre green park and a 50,000 square metre leisure park. An overview of the Al Montazah Park.- Supplied photo The trial opening of Al Montazah Park, previously known as Al Jazeera Park, took place on Sunday in the run up to its grand opening on March 13. Spreading over 126,000 square metres, Al Montazah Park boasts three main sections comprising a first-of-its-kind water park in Sharjah that will cover 26,000 square metres, a 50,000 square metre green park and a 50,000 square metre leisure park. The water park offers world-class facilities and water rides for all ages along with green areas for picnics. In addition to its modern design, the water park offers safety and protection services, along with lifeguards. The green park section will include green picnic areas and a venue dedicated to host events as well as a number of world-class restaurants, cafes, a lake for boating, and a mosque. The third part of the park called leisure park will entertain video game lovers with a variety of electronic games for all ages, along with a kart racing track for adults and children, and two mini football pitches. The trial opening of Al Montazah Park aims at ensuring that safety and security standards are in place, so visitors can enjoy quality services safely throughout the week. Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), developers of the project, said: “The opening of Al Montazah is a new addition to tourism in Sharjah and the UAE, a move that will contribute to increasing the flow of tourists into the emirate, particularly family tourism. “Sharjah has firmly established itself as family tourism region, due to its excellent attractions and tourist landmarks offering diverse options for visitors, to share and enjoy precious time with family, friends, and loved ones in a safe and beautiful atmosphere. He added: “The management has begun the trial operation of the project which will be open to the public within two weeks.” He pointed out that Al Montazah will receive a limited number of visitors during the trial operation so as to allow the project’s management to monitor the efficiency and quality of facilities and services, as well as to listen to visitors’ comments, before the official opening. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Director-General, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), has welcomed the initiation of several new tourism projects in Sharjah including the Al Montazah Park developed by Shurooq at a cost of Dh100 million. The strategic location of Al Montazah Park (in the heart of Sharjah) on the edge of the Khalid Lagoon and with its capacity to receive around three million visitors a year, the latest addition to Sharjah’s skyline will help attract more visitors to the emirate from across the UAE and the region, Al Midfa said. Shurooq is currently undertaking the development and management of other tourist, leisure and family entertaining facilities in Sharjah, most notably Al Qasba, Al Majaz Waterfront and the Flag Island. It is currently embarking on a range of new projects, including the Heart of Sharjah, Al Jabal Resort, The Chedi Khorfakkan and the Kalba Ecotourism project. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
